church reopening procedures

Following please find guidelines for joining us this coming Sunday, the phase-in schedule, and steps we will be taking to better protect our members and visitors. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

returning to gathering together

Introduction — We know that the COVID-19 will be at least some threat until there is a vaccine for it, or the restrictions for social distancing are completely lifted, therefore, it is incumbent on us to make some changes in an effort to limit exposure to those attending services at MBC.

Reopening MBC Is not a decision that has been made lightly. In preparations of our reopening our church for “in-person” services, we have developed several cautionary procedures that we plan to undertake and would encourage you to follow in order to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone who attends our services:

Cautionary Procedures Planned:

(1) To further support social distancing, we are asking for family members who live together to sit together. The service in the sanctuary will be video streamed to the Fellowship Hall and the Dunn Building. Depending on the number gathered, we may encourage you to utilize these facilities as needed in order to maintain a “safe distance” apart.

(2) To minimize the “bottleneck” at the main entrance of the church, Pastor Neal and others will not be in the foyer to greet you on your way in or out of the building. Pastor Neal will however be available near the pulpit area if you wish to speak to him for any reason.

(3) Please practice “social distancing” and avoid areas with heavy traffic, to the extent practical. We will be exiting in an orderly way to avoid close contact with others. Please feel free to enter or exit via the Front Doors or the Fellowship Hall doors, which ever provides the best social distancing for you and your family.

(4) Please consider alternative methods for greeting your fellow Brothers or Sisters other than the typical handshake or hug.

(5) Please wash your hands often and frequently. Midway will place hand sanitizers throughout its facilities for your use. Remember cleanliness is next to Godliness.

(6) Surgical masks will be provided for anyone who wishes to use them. Disposable gloves will also be made available.

(7) Please be extremely careful concerning interaction with the children or babies. The nursery room will remain open for individual use but will not be staffed.

(8) Please remain at home if you are manifesting any of the following signs of sickness: Fever — Cough —– Shortness of breath — Chills — Repeated shaking — Muscle pain; — Headache — Sore throat — New loss of taste or smell or other neurological issue.

We are not trying to limit your personal freedoms with these requests, we are simply trying to do the best job we can to protect our members and our visitors.

The facilities will be properly cleaned and sanitized after each service.

Thank you for your considerations — MBC, Pastor Ed Neal

phase-in opening

Update, May 22, 2020

After much thought and prayer, we have decided to continue our Sunday Worship schedule as is for now with Morning Service at 10:30 am and Evening Service at 5:00 pm. Wednesday night Bible Study will be via Facebook Live starting at 7:00 pm.

We ask that you continue your prayers that the Lord’s will be done and that we be able to resume our normal worship times and services as soon as possible.

Sunday May 3rd — One service at 10:30 AM— followed by a short business meeting.

Wednesday May 6th — 7:00 PM FB Live on the MBC Facebook page. We have had over 200 people join our Midway BC group and are hearing from many non members concerning these presentations.

Sunday May 10th — One service at Sunday at 10:30 AM

Wednesday May 13th — 7:00 PM Facebook Live on the MBC Facebook page

Sunday May 17th, — Two Services — 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM

We will continue to produce a video of our Sunday Morning services and put it on our website for those yet unable to attend — we are getting a lot of feedback from non- members about these videos.

We will have more information by May 18th and hopefully be ready for implementation of Gov Abbott’s Phase Two plan by then and at that point will determine about resuming our Wednesday night and Sunday School programs.

Medical experts find those at highest risk for life-threatening illness from COVID-19 are:

People 65 years and older • People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility

People of all ages with underlying medical conditions — Underlying medical conditions include, but are not limited to: People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma; and people who have serious heart conditions;

People who have a compromised immune system — Many conditions can cause a person to have a compromised immune system, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or an organ transplant, various other immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications;

People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher); or